Raleigh, N.C., Mar 16, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Their
mission was to spread the Gospel, not just wear the green. A Catholic
lay apostolate participated in their local St. Patrick’s Day Parade
with the aim of putting faith back into what has become a largely
cultural event.

One Bread Lay
Apostolate organized a group of Catholics from various parishes in the
Diocese of Raleigh to march in the local downtown parade March 11.

They distributed
St. Patrick holy cards among the 20,000 spectators. The cards included
an invitation to attend mass at a Catholic church nearby and to receive
free information about the Catholic Church.

"Many people are
not knowledgeable about Church history," said One Bread member Karen
Matthews. "They think St Patrick’s Day is about shamrocks and
leprechauns. We want to bring back the spiritual aspect of the holiday
and use the parade as a teaching moment to tell the world about one of
the world’s great evangelists."

Matthews said
the spectators seemed glad to receive the holy cards and to learn more
about the man who converted the Irish people in the 4th century from
paganism to Christianity.

This was the
third year the group has marched in the parade, but the first year that
it invited Catholic youth groups to compete for the Catholic Youth
Evangelization Award. St. Luke’s the Evangelist Catholic Church in
Raleigh won the trophy for their cheer.

After the
parade, One Bread offered free information about the Church at their
booth in Moore Square, where they also sold food, soft drinks, Catholic
books and gifts.